NASA contracts SpaceX for $843m ISS deorbitation vehicle
10:48 AM EDT, June 27, 2024
On Wednesday, the American space agency NASA announced that it has awarded SpaceX a contract worth $843 million for the design and construction of a special vehicle capable of deorbiting the International Space Station (ISS).
The International Space Station's deorbiting operation is expected to take place around 2030. Initially, this task was to be entrusted to Russia, which planned to use its rocket engines.
ISS - Deorbitation is approaching rapidly
The deorbitation operation is a joint effort involving various space agencies. Its main goal is to ensure the safe conclusion of the ISS's operational activities. The exact date of this operation will depend on many factors and may change.
The spacecraft to be built, the U.S. Deorbitation Vehicle (USDV), will be attached to the ISS before its closure. During the deorbitation process, the USDV will fire its engines, significantly slowing the station's speed. This will lower the station's orbit and eventually lead to its re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere over a designated area above the Pacific Ocean.
Elon Musk to assist with the iss
The SpaceX project aims to ensure the safe and controlled conclusion of the ISS mission, minimizing risks to people and property on Earth. While some parts of the station will burn up in the atmosphere, some debris may fall to Earth.
The original plan was to use Russian rocket engines to conduct the deorbitation maneuver. However, in light of the current geopolitical situation, NASA does not want to be dependent on its partner.
The ISS, a research laboratory the size of a football field, is mainly managed by the United States and Russia. Astronauts have been on board for over 23 years. Due to the aging of components, NASA and its international partners have set 2030 as the planned end date for the station's operations.
Experts believe that the deorbitation process is complicated and requires careful planning and execution. The collaboration between NASA and SpaceX represents an important step toward providing the United States with independent capabilities to operate in space.
